Dick Allen

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Feb 20, 2016 -> 07:44 AM) Even with their loss last night, Warriors only have to go to 25-4 to break the Bulls' record. Fairly doable if they could stay healthy. 25 out of 29 is still a 70 win pace. Obviously they could do it, but it won't be easy. It will be interesting to see if they are right on the record, how important it is for them to break it in the end. Or do they just make it a priority to be in the best shape possible for the playoffs. It could be that they are so good, like those Bulls teams, where it doesn't matter if your guys are rested for the playoffs. Is anyone going to beat them 4 times? Not as long as their top guys are playing.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 06:31 PM) GarPax means both. According to Cowley they both were doing it, Here is the story. Said it started in training camp which makes it more unbelievable to me. http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/13...ent-one-apology If it were true and even if it was only Gar only saying this, what would it say about Paxson if Joe Cowley knew this was going on and he did not, and what would it say about Paxson that he still employed Gar? I would love if they both were out the door, but I will give them the benefit of doubt on this one. Sabotaging a coach and a season like that seems pretty unlikely to me.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 06:26 PM) Could you trade Erik Johnson for Manaea and Aaron Brooks today? At worst, as a prospect, Manaea is in that same 75-100 range as Montas...although a lot of scouts are more bullish on his long-term starting potential. Already, that's a higher cost than Adams. Maybe, but they wouldn't be trading for them. They would be trading for a 2 month rental. 2 years ago, Johnson was a prospect in the 60s.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 06:23 PM) P Forman or Paxson? I doubt both of them said to ignore Thibs. GarPax isn't a person. Edit: Sorry, I didn't mean to say that to you. The previous post doesn't specify Forman or Paxson. GarPax means both. According to Cowley they both were doing it, Here is the story. Said it started in training camp which makes it more unbelievable to me. http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/13...ent-one-apology

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 06:10 PM) The key difference is they had the minor league depth to go all-in and trade their equivalents of Anderson, Fulmer and Adams for Zobrist and Cueto. Is that the type of move that we (can or) should expect at the trade deadline this year when the Sox are bunched in the wild card pack with 7-8 other teams and no clear direction to go in again? Unless Sale gets hurt, they won't need an ace. A guy like Zobrist went for a price like Erik Johnson. If Fulmer or another guy step up, and Latos provides anything, they can get by without trading Adams., or Anderson or Fulmer.

Is there any truth to Cowley's claim that GarPax told the players last year it was OK to tune out Thins because he wasn't long for the job? If there is, and I know, it's Cowley, there is no reason they should have a job in the NBA. It is so outrageous, I can't believe it could be true.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 04:43 PM) Bull did nothing at the deadline. Gar is finished. Gar wants to bring Pau and Joakim back. He really loves this roster.

QUOTE (kevo880 @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 04:23 PM) I usually agree with the general consensus on this board, but apparently I'm in the minority that I'm overall happy with the off season. Would I like and upgrade at RF and/or SS? Of course that would be nice, but we have upgraded pretty massively at 2B, 3B, and C. Not to mention signing Latos for next to nothing and adding more depth to the bullpen. How much more can you realistically expect to happen in 1 off season? I personally love that Hahn is being smart and not giving in to the player demands. There are so many FA's still out there that I'm sure would like to be playing this season and earning a contract. There is no reason to give in to their demands and pay them what they want. I'm fine with running Saladino out there for 1 season. We have Anderson waiting in the wings and we will have him hopefully at SS for league minimum for years. When it comes to RF, I think it'd be dumb to give Fowler a 4 year deal or close to a $50 million dollar contract, while giving up the 28th overall pick in the draft at the same time. When it comes down to it, I'm not an Avi supporter, but I understand giving him 1 more season to see if he can put it together like the Sox thought he could when they acquired him. I think the way to build a winner is to find the bargains in FA and build from within. I do see that plan in place at the moment. Before anyone says it, I realize we have traded many prospects in our top 25 from last season, but let's be honest, who are we really going to miss? Montas maybe if he ever stays healthy. Other than that I'd be surprised if they amount to much in the majors. I think we all get a little more worked up than we should, this team should be better and if the bullpen and rotation hold, should contend. Take the 2015 Royals. They were contending with one of the worst rotations in baseball, Rios in Rf, and Infante at 2nd most of the season. They upgraded for sure, and probably wouldn't have won without the upgrade, but there were some bums in that line up a good part of the season. I just think we see obvious available chances to make the team better, and so far they seem to have passed on all. It is easy to frustrate.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 03:24 PM) Saladino should be fine as a starter, but on a contending team he should probably be your worst starting player. The path to him being better than Avi and LaRoche seems much clearer right now. I think LaRoche will bounce back a bit. Avi is a problem, but if he plays every day, at some point, his numbers will look great, like they did in May last year.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 03:14 PM) As of right now--the offseason has been a failure in my opinion. Todd Frazier was a good addition, but there are still a gaping holes out in RF, SS and DH. We all know Saladino is not an every day starting SS on a contending team. We all know Avi is bad and the only thing going for him is his age. We all know the La Roche signing was a bust and the DH spot in the lineup is a huge concern. If one of these guys can be average--that's a positive, but the chances for all three being positive WAR contributors to this team (that is supposed to contend) is a bit of a stretch. I can accept playing Saladino every day at SS until Tim Anderson is ready to go. However, the fact that they did not address that RF spot is beyond me?!? If Saladino fields his position well, he sure can be a starting SS on a contending team. He is also a great baserunner. Steamer projects an 80 wRC+, when the Sox won the WS, Uribe put up an 84. Back in the Sox heyday in the early 90s Ozzie was averaging about a 75. If he is anywhere near as good of defensive SS as he showed at 3B, he isn't going to have to hit much to be valuable.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 01:47 PM) If Sanchez is not starting at 2B, and I doubt he does, he should be playing every day in Charlotte. He really isn't ideal as utility unless he can play SS as a backup. He has been working out at SS. I think they will keep him although he doesn't bring great speed to the bench. But the defense may get better when Frazier or Lawrie get some time off.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 01:44 PM) Levine was on the radio this morning strongly emphasizing that they need to get a lefty bat and would trade lower-level prospects to get one. Yes, that seems to be the company line. Stone was going on and on about a lefty bat a month ago. He seemed disappointed Chris Davis was no longer available. I think they just need an upgrade.

As long as something is done before Opening Day, that's fine. Fowler supposedly wants 4 years or at least $45 million. Who knows with Jackson. I don't think Hahn has proven himself, but he knows as well as anyone, he needs another OF.

He was playing in an Independent league into his 50s. He got into a brawl a few years ago. I wonder if he was ever able to conquer his addiction to the crack rock.

Micah Johnson hurt his hand taking out an avocado pit. Is out for a week. Trayce better be careful.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 12:02 PM) You know every year we get these articles about players being in the best shape of their life. When are we going to start getting articles of players are in the best hitting, pitching or defense spot in their lives lol. Avi could be in the best shape of his life but if he can't hit the ball or catch it then sure doesn't matter about the shape he's in That's coming. Everyone who struggled last year will look great. It will be night and day from last year. LaRoche is due for an article like this. Latos will be in ace form as well. I'm still wondering if anyone will tell us Jesse Crain has a chance of breaking with the team even though he isn't even there.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 11:18 AM) Avi needs to just take the Toronto approach and swing out of his ass on every pitch I agree. Open his stance and try to hit everything on the plate and in into the LF seats.

Avi lost a ton of weight last offseason. Was barely recognizable at Soxfest. Said he was eating fish. Obviously he gained some of it back, but it didn't help him too much. Maybe his knee will feel better lighter, but as everyone pointed out..........

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 19, 2016 -> 07:53 AM) I clearly said that they didn't get anywhere near the value for the prospects they traded. But it could also be true (it has been in the past ) that their farm is a heck of a lot stronger than the Sox farm, which gives them the ability to trade their good prospects without hurting future). The Red Sox also woefully overpaid for relief pitcher. They didnt hurt their future. I long for the day when making such trade wouldn't hurt the Sox future If your team was so bad you had the #1 pick in the draft, and you trade that player 6 months later, you either drafted terribly or made a big mistake. To say a franchise is not hurting it's future by giving away a #1 overall pick is crazy, especially coming from you. Considering they just traded for a SS who can't hit or field, it makes it even more outrageous.

So did juicing lengthen careers or shorten them? If the juice caused Juan Gone to fall apart, why were there so many guys pushing 40 putting up .900 or so OPSs?

If anyone actually reads what Levine wrote, he said high k rate, and average defense. I think average is being pretty fair.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 02:46 PM) Really makes you wonder if they ever even had a plan honestly. I mean, KW sure made it sound like Hahn wasnt prepared earlier this offseason. I have no idea what this FO is doing anymore, and it's really tough to rationalize why I continue to give them so much of my time and energy. I wish the Bears were good so I didnt need to agonize over the Sox all winter. I think many took those KW comments out of context. He wasn't throwing Hahn under a bus, he was saying he was still gathering information. The reality is they didn't pay much of a price to upgrade at cather. Lawrie didn't cost much. Frazier cost some prospects, but considering the lack of 3B in MLB, it wasn't a really high price to pay. Latos at $3 million was nothing. Jones will be farther from surgery and around on day 1. They have paid a minimal price for their upgrades. I can understand why they didn't sing Gordon or Cespedes or Upton. Those guys went places where if the Sox matched those contracts, they were staying there. In Upton's case, Detroit probably would have gone as high as it had to go. Gordon wasn't leaving KC unless the Sox offer was significantly better, and Cespedes would probably have cost at least $30 million for the 2016 season. If Fowler gets 3/$45 million, I can accept them not signing him. But if it is 2/$25 million or something like that, I'm sorry, that is something you cannot pass up if you are going for it and don't want to waste Sale/Abreu etc. prime years.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 02:29 PM) If no other changes are made, it will be shocking to see how poorly the roster is constructed (bench wise). A bench of Navarro/Sanchez/Shuck/Sands (or Olt, etc) is pretty awful. Is it really much worse than the World Series bench with Timo, Ozuna, Widger, Harris, Blum for half a year? I think people put way too much stock in the bench.

I doubt the Bulls sign anyone. They would have to pay luxury tax.

Maybe we will be pleasantly surprised in the next few days. I know I am more than surprised it appears at this point, the 3 days with Todd Steverson in Miami has the Sox feeling good about Avi.